Chapter Ninety-Six: Very Important

“How did you manage to do it?!”
How did the progress bar reach the end without a sound or sign?
Xu Nuo spoke humbly, “No need to be surprised. It’s simple—just routine procedure.”
007: “Did another bug crop up?” Lu Ciyuan is still lying in the Jade Book Illusion, and yet the host somehow maxed out the affection value. It shouldn’t be possible just by healing.
Puzzled, 007 soon realized another problem: with the affection value at its peak, leaving this world was inevitable, and the system and its host would have to face headquarters’ scrutiny.
The host probably wouldn’t be troubled, but as the one bending the rules with technology, 007 was finished.
Xu Nuo couldn’t sense her system’s sadness. She spent a few leisurely days in the newly built courtyard with Sister Yan, and soon, another round of combat arrived.
This time, her opponent was not monstrously large or terrifying, but rather one of the rare demons whose features were upright and handsome, almost indistinguishable from a normal person.
Although Xu Nuo couldn’t tell the difference between human and demon by aura, since some demons looked nearly human, her first instinct told her that this “demon” before her was actually a human in disguise.
Sure enough, during their exchange, Xu Nuo noticed the sword technique bore traces of the Cave Heaven Sect, subtly concealed but impossible to escape her keen eyes.
“I’ve heard the Crimson-robed Young Master has never been defeated. I greatly admire you. Today I dare challenge you; please don’t hold back.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. The words were modest, but his tone was forceful, certain of victory.
“Of course,” Xu Nuo replied, never one to lose in imposing presence. “Whether you’re a dragon or a tiger, you’ll still crawl back on all fours.”
Her opponent’s expression froze, caught off guard by Xu Nuo’s brazen arrogance.
“Very well, let me see if you have the strength to make me kneel!”
Before the words faded, sword light flashed. Xu Nuo narrowly dodged each thrust, every movement brushing past death by a hair’s breadth.
The audience below shrieked in excitement, but Sister Yan’s heart clenched tighter with every move.
The first strike missed, the second was evaded as well. Watching an ordinary mortal swagger unharmed under his nose—he couldn’t fathom how she avoided the relentless attacks. The cultivator surnamed Yu grew impatient, his assaults turning increasingly fierce.
On stage, every move was fraught with danger; one misstep meant death. The audience couldn’t get enough.

Facing a Cave Heaven Sect cultivator, Xu Nuo was even more cautious than when fighting demons. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her breath ragged as she barely dodged another blow. Yet as time dragged on, her movements lost their earlier agility; a passing sword wind tore open the edge of her sleeve, a thin line of blood seeping out. The wound was barely noticeable beneath her crimson robe.
But Sister Yan’s gaze followed Xu Nuo’s every movement, catching the detail clearly.
“Miss Xu!”
Her voice was drowned out by the demons’ excited cries.
The cultivator saw Xu Nuo’s growing weakness. No matter how clever she was, she was still mortal and nearly at her limit. He sneered, “Only defending, never attacking—do you look down on me? For fairness, I’ll let you have three moves and won’t retaliate.”
Xu Nuo scoffed, “I hardly need to get serious to beat you. Winning is just a game.”
The cultivator’s jaw clenched in frustration.
So Xu Nuo faced attacks far more ruthless than before. Clearly, her opponent was deeply dissatisfied, his emotions nearly spilling from the tip of his sword.
Xu Nuo found a rare moment to catch her breath, “Weren’t you going to let me have three moves? Where’s your magnanimity?”
The cultivator: “…”
For some reason, though her words weren’t particularly harsh, he couldn’t help but itch for a fight, feeling an urge to thrash her. He suppressed his anger with repeated calming incantations. He had come with a mission to capture Xu Nuo alive, which was the only reason he held back.
But Xu Nuo, heedless of danger, kept provoking him, dancing on the edge of life and death; the most anxious ones were him and the traitor below the stage.
Xu Nuo teased, “Is that all? Is that it?”
“Look, I’ve jumped over here, now I’m out again.”
“Come on, come on—hit me if you can.”
She circled the not-so-large stage countless times, never caught, slipperier than a fish in water.
The cultivator grew frantic, all composure gone: “If you’re so capable, stop running!”
Xu Nuo grinned, “Alright, I’ll stand still and let you hit me.”
Without thinking, the cultivator hurled a binding rope, intent on tying Xu Nuo up and ending this farce.

Yet the rope, meant to bind automatically, caught only air; Xu Nuo stood boldly, unmoving. “Your aim is terrible.”
The cultivator: “...Shut up! If you’re so brave, surrender!” He knew she was using a dodging artifact.
Xu Nuo asked, “Are you begging for mercy?”
The cultivator snapped, “What do you mean, begging for mercy?”
Xu Nuo shrugged, “If you can’t hit me standing still and ask me to surrender, isn’t that begging for mercy?”
He, a dignified Golden Core cultivator, being accused of begging for mercy after being toyed with by a mortal—an outrage!
Only a shred of reason kept him from killing Xu Nuo on the spot, but he could not let her continue unchecked. She relied on her status as the descendant of an Immortal Venerable, knowing he wouldn’t dare truly harm her, so she acted recklessly.
It was time to get serious.
His aura shifted. “You still have time to beg for mercy.”
Even a cornered rabbit will bite; and she was no rabbit. He no longer held back, aiming deadly strikes at her vital points. Real danger replaced mere threat, and one mistake would mean death.
Watching Xu Nuo lose all ability to fight back and scramble desperately for her life, the cultivator felt immense satisfaction, his attacks growing even more uncontrollable.
“Miss Xu!” Sister Yan cried anxiously, “Stop fighting!”
Xu Nuo stubbornly replied, “You want me to admit defeat? Impossible.”
Sister Yan was frantic, “It’s alright to lose one match.”
“No,” Xu Nuo shook her head firmly.
“Why not? Is this match really so important?” Sister Yan’s eyes were full of worry and confusion, nearly rushing onto the stage, but the demon guards quickly restrained her.
Xu Nuo said, “It’s very important.” Unintentionally, a sharp blade sliced through the mask covering her face; her expression was pale and exhausted, but her eyes were unwavering.